BAMAKO / OUAGADOUGOU — Mali and Burkina Faso have announced sweeping travel bans on United States citizens, escalating diplomatic tensions with Washington after the Trump administration earlier this month placed the two West African nations on a new US travel blacklist.
In coordinated statements released late Tuesday, the foreign ministries of both countries said the measures were taken under the principle of “reciprocity”, directly mirroring the restrictions imposed by the White House.
On December 16, US President Donald Trump expanded an existing travel ban, adding Mali, Burkina Faso, and five other countries to a list of states whose citizens are barred from entering the United States. The policy is scheduled to take effect on January 1.
The White House said the decision was based on what it described as “persistent and severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” that allegedly pose national security and public safety risks to the United States.
Mali’s government sharply criticized Washington’s move, saying the decision was made without consultation and was not supported by realities on the ground.
In its statement, Bamako said the rationale offered by the US administration “does not reflect the actual security and governance situation in Mali”, calling the ban unjustified and politically motivated.
Burkina Faso echoed those concerns, asserting that diplomatic relations must be governed by mutual respect and equal treatment.
Mali and Burkina Faso now join a growing list of African states that have responded forcefully to US travel restrictions.
On December 25, neighboring Niger announced it would suspend the issuance of visas to US citizens, according to the country’s state media, citing diplomatic sources.
Earlier in June, Chad imposed a similar measure after it was included on a previous list of 12 countries targeted by US travel bans.
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The series of retaliatory moves underscores increasing diplomatic strain between Washington and several governments in the Sahel region, many of which have accused the US of applying unilateral policies that undermine sovereignty and regional stability.
The dispute unfolds amid shifting alliances in West Africa, where Mali and Burkina Faso—both currently governed by military-led administrations—have been recalibrating foreign relations and strengthening ties with non-Western partners while reducing cooperation with Western governments.
Analysts warn that the tit-for-tat travel restrictions could further complicate security cooperation and humanitarian operations in a region already facing extremist violence, political transitions, and humanitarian crises.
